Model year record

1994 Ford Probe recalls & problems

The 1994 Ford Probe has 4 safety recalls and 166 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (36 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints166filed by owners

Crashes · fires16 · 7reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths15 · 1reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingJul 17, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E0650003,593 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E02600061,944 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Fuel system, gasolineOct 5, 2005

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 05E06500042,962 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 45-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F350-S1, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 1993-1997 FORD PROBE,1993-2001 MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AND 1983-1994 LOYAL, 3-DOOR COUPE, HATCHBACK, SEDAN, WAGON, BRAT, DL, GL, GL-10, RX, XT, AND XT6 PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 90-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F300-S2, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 19983-1994 SUBARU VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE FILTER DUE TO NON-CONFORMING BRAZING WELDS WHERE THE INLET TUBE IS CONNECTED TO THE FILTER CAN.
Risk: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR.
Fix: SPX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MR. CHRIS GREESON AT 704-869-3733 OR CONTACT THE WIX INFORMATION HOTLINE AT 800-949-6698.

Air bagsOct 15, 1993

Frontal

Recall 93V169000217 vehicles

Problem: IF THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THERE IS NO PASSENGER IN THAT SEATING POSITION, THE AIR BAG CAN DETACH FROM, AND DEFORM, THE MOUNTING BRACKET.
Risk: INSTALLATION OF A REPLACEMENT PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAGWOULD BE IMPEDED BY THE DAMAGE TO THE MOUNTING BRACKET AND WOULD REQUIRE MOREEXPENSIVE REPAIR WORK. THIS MAY DETER THE VEHICLE OWNER FROM HAVING THE REPAIRMADE AND THE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG INSTALLED, WHICH WOULD PLACE FUTURE PASSENGERSAT HIGHER RISK OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: A NEW AIR BAG MODULE WITH A SLIGHTLY REVISED DOOR TO IMPROVE FIT AND APPEARANCE WILL BE INSTALLED AND A DOUBLER WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE MOUNTING BRACKET TO MORE SECURELY RETAIN THE MODULE.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1994 Ford Probe 2-DR

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Probe

26mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

Probe

23mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Probe

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel

Probe

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.5 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Caliper; Foundation components › Disc	36	1	0	0	—
Electrical systemIgnition; Wiring › Interior/under dash	30	3	6	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	29	1	1	1	90,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	29	1	2	0	99,000 mi
Seat beltsFront › Webbing; Front › Anchorage	13	3	0	2	—
Air bagsFrontal; Side/window	12	9	1	8	—
Parking brakeConventional; Conventional › Mechanical › Linkage and cable	11	1	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump; Fuel injection system	9	1	1	1	—
SteeringHydraulic power assist system; Hydraulic power assist › Pump	7	0	0	2	—
Service brakes, airDisc › Caliper	6	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	4	1	0	0	—
TiresTread/belt	4	1	0	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD PROBE EQUIPPED WITH HERCULES RAPTURE (NA) TIRES, SIZE: 18570R14 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BUBBLE STICKING OUT OF THE TIRE TREAD AREA. THE TIRE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
Nov 20, 2015 · 166,000 miles
Seat belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD PROBE GT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED TO LOCK TO SECURE THE PASSENGERS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO RUSTING OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
Jun 2, 2014 · 153,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling
I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE ONE 1994 FORD PROBE 2.0 IS AFFILIATED WITH TSB NO. 96-21-3 THAT RECOGNIZES A DEFECT IN THE OIL PUMP. THE DEFECT IS ASSOCIATED WITH LIFTER BLEED DOWN, LOW OR HIGH OIL PRESSURE AND LACK OF POWER. WHILE OPERATING THIS MOTOR VEHICLE IN A TRAFFIC ENVIRONMENT, I MAY NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE EFFICIENTLY AND/OR CEASE THE MOTOR DUE TO IMPROPER DISBURSEMENT OF ENGINE OIL. THIS CONDITION COULD POTENTIALLY CREATE A HAZARD OR ACCIDENT TO MYSELF OR OTHERS
Sep 15, 2010 · 220,000 miles
Tires › Tread/belt
1994 FORD PROBE, TRAVELING WEST ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE , THE RUBBER TREAD ON THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL CAME OFF, AND CAUSED DISABLING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0375-89)*JB
Sep 3, 2010
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD PROBE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR CALIPERS WERE RUSTED, WHICH PREVENTED THEM FROM MOVING. AS OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,948.
Sep 17, 2007 · 104,948 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
3RD TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHIN A 4 YEAR PERIOD EVEN WITH A TRANSMISSION COOLER INSTALLED. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 115000 MILES. LAST TRANSMISSION LASTED ONLY A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. *NM
Feb 15, 2007 · 82,000 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
I JUST BOUGHT A 1994 FORD PROBE GT, ONLY TO FIND OUT THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD IN IT. AFTER SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE CAR I FOUND OUT THE 626 MAZDA TRANSMISSION THAT WAS PUT INTO THE CAR IS KNOWN FOR FAILING. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY DOING 60 MPH WHEN MY CAR SHIFTED DOWN AND DROPPED ALMOST 15 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BUT IF A CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN BEHIND ME I LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. I HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL FORD PROBE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED MAZDA WHO SAID THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH FORD AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET A CALL BACK FROM FORD. *NM
Feb 18, 2006
Air bags › FrontalCrash
I WAS DRIVING A 1994 FORD PROBE SE, GOING NORTH ON WESTNEDGE IN PORTAGE, MICHIGAN WHEN I NOTICED TOO LATE THAT CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED MOVING. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND REAR ENDED IT. I WAS TRAVELING AT THE POSTED SPEED OF 35 MPH AND WAS SLOWING DOWN CONSIDERABLY BUT RAN OUT OF BRAKING ROOM. I BRACED FOR THE IMPACT AND HEARD A LOUD KRACK! AND THEN SOMETHING WHICH SOUNDED LIKE A SMALL BOMB HAD GONE OFF INSIDE MY CAR. I FELT A BURNING SENSATION AND THEN LOOKED AT MY ARM. IT LOOKED MANGLED, WITH GLASS IMBEDDED IN MY WRIST. THERE WAS LOTS OF SMOKE AND I HAD TROUBLE BREATHING. I HEARD MY WIFE SCREAMING AND SOBBING. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LAID ON THE GRASS. THE PAIN WAS AWFUL. I COULD…
Aug 15, 2005

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

ENGINE OIL PUMP FAILUREClosed
There is no summary currently available
DP98005 · opened Jun 4, 1998 · closed Aug 27, 1998